
Swiss side FC Basel have captured the signing of striker Bénie Traoré, who made eight appearances in the Premier League for Sheffield United last season.
The 21-year-old has moved to St. Jakob-Park for a seven-figure fee, believed to be in the region of €4 million (£3.7 million). Operating as a striker or a winger, the player was frozen out following Chris Wilder’s arrival, and it is believed the Blades have taken a small loss on the £4 million outlay they made last summer.
“I am delighted that I was able to sign with FC Basel today,” he told Basel’s official site. “I have heard a lot of positive things about the club, which confirmed my positive feeling.
“On the pitch, I feel comfortable in several offensive positions and can be used in a variety of ways. After completing my pre-season training with Sheffield over the last few weeks, I can hardly wait to be on the pitch in my new colours.”
He joins a club that finished eighth in the Swiss Premier League last season, a far cry from the eight titles they have secured since 2010. They’ll be hoping the Ivory Coast Under 23 international can help them reclaim their former glory, with the last of their titles coming seven years ago, in 2017.
Traoré started his career in his home country with ASEC Mimosas before moving to Sweden with Häcken. He impressed in Scandinavia, scoring 25 goals in 58 outings, including 12 in 14 league matches in the 2023 season. That prompted Sheffield United to spend money on him, but his playing time there was limited.
Despite starting their first three Premier League matches of the season, he fell out of favour after Paul Heckingbottom left the club and spent the second half of the season on loan in France with FC Nantes. They had an option to make the move permanent but chose not to take that option.
He was also deemed surplus to requirements at Bramall Lane, despite the Blades relegation, and will now look to kickstart his career with Basel, where he joins fellow Africans Emmanuel Essiam and Jonas Adjetey, both of Ghana.
Site Opinion
Traoré was purchased by the Blades as a project, but was dropped into first team action far too early. He never looked ready, and while £4 million isn’t a lot for a Premier League side to spend on a squad player, it is a lot of value for a Championship side to risk.
Therefore, cashing in seems appropriate. The player is young enough to kick on and have a good career, and Basel feels like a place he can do it. They’re a big club by anyone’s standards – they have the second-highest attendance in the country, and if he catches fire, he’ll once again rise on the world stage.
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